Chapter 11: Fantasy

On that day, it was already dark by the time we descended the mountain, so we found ourselves driving along the unsettling road once again.

However, taking advantage of the method used to create the “Magic Exclusion Lens,” I skillfully wove the “Guiding Thread Silvate” with my fingertips. With this, I could use magic even with both hands occupied, providing reassurance in times of need. As I reflected on my past mistakes and tried out new methods, my father, who was sitting in the passenger seat, quietly spoke up.

“I always thought that demands should come from the one doing the forging.”

“That just means he has high expectations for Itsuki-kun.”

“Even so, leaving a child behind… That’s something I can’t accept.”

The blacksmith makes demands when forging a magic sword. I heard about it when we first arrived at the inn, and my father also mentioned it at the forge.

I had thought it was because of defeating the “Sixth-Rank,” or something like that.

“Sensei seems to enjoy imposing demands that we can’t accept.”

“Perhaps that demand was made because he thought money wasn’t an issue. As for the other challenges… well, I suppose Itsuki-kun could easily solve them.”

Despite talking about not having financial troubles, as I listened to the conversation between the two up front, I started to feel like maybe it wasn’t a lie after all. Perhaps he charges a considerable amount for the demands of other exorcists.
As the car emerged from the mountain road and returned to the wide two-lane road, the darkness unique to the natural night greeted us. I removed the “Magic Exclusion Lens” I had made to ensure visibility.

The moment I removed it, the surroundings faintly brightened.

“Hmm?”

There were no streetlights, and it wasn’t the season for fireflies either.

Puzzled, I looked out the window, and I saw small glowing orbs rising from the mountains into the sky.

It looked as though the entire mountain was lit up, but from the way the light was rising, that wasn’t the case.

I followed the flow of light downwards, and far below, the river was shining golden.

Oh, right, the river flows from the source.

I remembered that. And now I understood why the river was glowing.

It was magic. I couldn’t see it during the day when the sun was out, but it was visible at night like this.

The river looked as if it were filled with countless stars in the night sky, and I was mesmerized by the sight.

“Itsuki-kun, what’s wrong?”
Aya-chan, sitting in front, asked curiously.

To Aya-chan, who couldn’t see magic, I must have seemed like a strange person suddenly looking out the window in the dark.

“I’ll show you something interesting. Look at the river.”

I spun the “Guiding Thread Silviate” I had been weaving with my fingertips in front of Aya-chan’s eyes, creating the opposite of the “Magic Exclusion Lens” I had just made— a lens that gathered magic and added color to it.

Surely… she should be able to see it.

The moment I thought that, Aya-chan gasped, “Wow…”

“Beautiful…”

“…See? It’s magic flowing.”

As I said that, I felt a strong tug on my hand from the right.

I had to show Nina-chan too. As I thought that, I made the lens. The moment I did, Nina-chan, who had been silent all this time, murmured, “…It’s beautiful.”

Captivated by the sight, both Aya-chan and Nina-chan fell silent as they gazed at the river sparkling like the Milky Way.

Then Aya-chan spoke up in a small voice.

“…Itsuki-kun, this is how the world looks to you, isn’t it?”

I hesitated for a moment before replying, “It’s usually normal.”

After answering, I redirected my thoughts to something more practical.

…Could I somehow use this magic?

Since hearing about magic being imbued in water from Renji-san at the hot spring, I had come up with several ideas for how to use it, but I hadn’t had a chance to try them out yet.

And if it’s already this dark, I can’t try them out right now.

If that’s the case, practicing magic will have to wait until tomorrow.

Deciding so, I spent the rest of the drive back… thinking about practical ways to make use of magic.

When we returned to the inn, we were guided to the dining area where our meal was already prepared.

“You must be hungry, Itsuki-kun.”

“Yeah! We climbed a mountain, after all.”

Nodding to Aya-chan, I took Nina-chan’s hand.
I shouldn’t say this too often, but holding her hand seems to calm Nina-chan’s mind, so it’s reassuring for me too.

With that in mind, we were shown into the parlor room.

Inside, Hina had already arrived and was waiting for us.

Seeing me enter the room, mother, who was playing with Hina, asked me.

“How did it go, Itsuki? Were you able to get the sword forged?”

“N-no. But I’ll go again.”

Shaking my head in response to my mother’s question, I sat down in a suitable spot.

Once I sat down, Nina-chan sat to my right, and Aya-chan sat to my left. Is this balanced?

As we waited for the food to arrive, starting with the seasonal vegetable salad and clear soup, the waitress brought grilled river fish. Come to think of it, Gifu doesn’t have a sea… Just as I was thinking that, the waitress continued to serve me rice cooked with mushrooms.

As I was getting hungry, I suddenly noticed Nina-chan silently staring at the food in front of her.

“What’s wrong, Nina-chan?”

“I’m not hungry.”

What came back was a small but heavy voice.

Even though she’s been mountain climbing, I don’t think she’s not hungry… As I thought about it while looking at Nina-chan, I could see Irena-san at the corner of my vision, wearing a worried expression.

Could it be that?

Perhaps she hasn’t been able to eat at home either.

“After this, there’s also meat.”

“Thank you for waiting. Here’s the Hida beef steak.”

As if on cue, the waiter brought out today’s main dish.

Although it’s called steak, it’s not a thick slice of meat, but bite-sized cuts of beef. The moment I heard that, the word “Hida” and the place name “Gifu” linked in my mind for the first time. Come to think of it, Hida is in Gifu, right?

As I watched the meat being cooked on the tabletop grill in front of me, I asked Nina-chan.

“Nina-chan, don’t you want to eat the meat?”

“Yeah. I’m fine like this.”

There’s no way she wouldn’t be hungry.

I think at times like these, you should eat anything to fill your stomach, so I offered Nina-chan a bowl.

“If it’s soup, do you think you can drink it?”

“…Thank you, Itsuki.”

When I offered it to Nina-chan, she slowly brought the bowl to her lips and drank it down.

Her pace was so slow that it was clear she was really struggling.

However, I thought she could drink some soup, so I offered her my soup as well.

“………..”

But no one said anything, perhaps because they didn’t want to force her to eat.

If they didn’t say anything, Hina came over to me.

She pointed to the fruit, which was the dessert, left in Nina-chan’s mostly untouched meal, and asked,

“Nina-nee-chan! Don’t you want grapes?”

“I… can’t eat them.”

“Then, Hina will have them!”
Saying so, Hina took Nina-chan’s dessert.

Well, maybe it’s not really taking in this case.

“Hey, Hina. Don’t do that.”

“But Nina-nee-chan said it’s okay!”

Scolded by my mother, Hina sulked.

Well, I can understand both sides in this case.

With such exchanges happening, when everyone finished eating, the conversation turned to returning to our rooms. While my father and Renji-san talked about whether we should go back to the hot spring again, I was walking with the three of them when Aya-chan took my hand.

Stopping involuntarily, I saw that Aya-chan was not only holding my hand but also Nina-chan’s.

“Hey, Itsuki-kun. There’s something I want to talk about.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Come over here for a moment. Nina-chan too.”

Aya-chan said that and then said to Renji-san, “I’m going to get some juice!” and dragged us to the vending machine corner.

There were about four vending machines lined up in the small room, with one bench and two trash cans. Perhaps because it was still open, there was no one in the vending machine corner.

After confirming that no one was there, Aya-chan let out a sigh of relief.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Um, it’s not me who wants to talk.”

The moment Aya-chan said that, the air seemed to freeze.

Through what felt like a temperature change, Aya-chan’s black hair turned silver. Her eyes changed color. She became someone else.

And then, looking exactly like Aya-chan, a completely different entity was there.

“Long time no see, Itsuki.”

“…Ice Princess.”

“I’ve missed you.”

With those words, the Ice Princess embraced me.

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